Hormuz talks Doha are set for Tuesday after the United States and Iran agreed to halt all strikes and discuss Strait of Hormuz passage terms, according to Axios, which cited senior US officials.
The stand-down followed a weekend of renewed exchanges that pushed an 11-day-old ceasefire close to collapse. Both sides carried out strikes and accused each other of breaking the memorandum of understanding that ended their conflict. However, a senior US official said all kinetic activity was to stop. A second official said both sides would stand down for now and that vessels could move freely through the strait while the technical process continued.
Hormuz Talks Doha Shift Focus
The dispute centers on how both sides read the existing agreement. Iran committed to use its best efforts to ensure safe passage for commercial shipping through the strait. In return, the United States lifted its blockade of Iranian ports. However, the two sides later applied different readings to that pledge, especially on whether ships must coordinate passage with Iranian authorities.
A military hotline was meant to close that gap. The United States armed forces and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps agreed to the line during talks in Switzerland the previous week. Vice President JD Vance led the American delegation there. Yet as of Saturday, the hotline still was not working, even as Iran had resumed demands for vessels to seek Iranian approval before transit.
Markets Watch Strait of Hormuz Terms
Tuesday’s Doha meeting will now focus on the operating rules for passage through the strait. The next round had been due in Switzerland and was meant to address Iran’s nuclear programme. Instead, the weekend escalation changed both the venue and the agenda. Nick Stewart, who heads the US technical team, is expected to represent Washington.
Meanwhile, the announcement came before the reopening of US equity and oil futures at 2200 GMT, or 1800 US Eastern time. Traders will get their first chance to price the renewed stand-down when markets reopen. However, the source said the relief may be limited because the ceasefire already broke down once and the hotline remained inactive as of Saturday.
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